Presentation

Initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev (Chair of Green Cross International) and Maurice Strong (Chair of the Earth Council), the Earth Dialogues are a series of public forums on ethics and sustainable development. The Earth Dialogues aim to raise and mobilise public awareness around the ethical dimensions of three key global survival challenges:

• Averting ecological disasters that threaten our planet
• Eradicating poverty
• Promoting secure and sustainable futures for all

The first Earth Dialogues was held in Lyon in 2002 and addressed the ethical underpinnings of the globalisation and sustainability agendas. That meeting brought together over 1,300 participants from all sectors to develop strategies for integrating ethical concerns into sustainable development and globalisation policies.

The Earth Dialogues that are planned for 2004 will address the ethical dimensions of the evolving security and sustainability agendas. The Dialogues will examine the ecological, human and economic dimensions of the expanding concept of security, and will address the key ethical challenges of forging a deeper and longer-lasting global commitment to the values of sustainability, diversity, and peace and security.

Earth Dialogues Barcelona follows on the New York City Earth Dialogues, which took place in October 2003. Other Earth Dialogues are planned for Lyon (France), Alexandria (Egypt) and La Reunion Island (Indian Ocean) before the end of 2004.